>>> WELCOME TO "NOON
WEDNESDAY," I'M MARISA WOJCIK,
MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST WITH "HERE
& NOW" ON PBS WISCONSIN.
TODAY IS OCTOBER 13.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, LARGE CITIES
ARE SEEING HIGHER RATES OF
VIOLENT CRIME AND HOMICIDE, AND
MILWAUKEE MIGHT BE SEEING SOME
OF THE WORST AS MURDERS AND GUN
VIOLENCE APPROACH HISTORIC
LEVELS IN 2021.
JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THEIR
WORK IN THE MILWAUKEE HEALTH
DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE OF VIOLENCE
PREVENTION IS KWEKU TeAnge
TeAngelo, AND JAMAAL SMITH,
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> I WANT TO START, WITH AS WE
MENTIONED, NATIONWIDE CITIES
REPORT HIGHER RATES OF VIOLENCE
AND PARTICULARY HOMICIDE.
FOR THE TWO OF YOU AS PEOPLE WHO
WORK VERY CLOSELY IN THIS, WHAT
DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN
MILWAUKEE, AND JAMAAL, WE START
WITH YOU.
>> YEAH.
THANK YOU.
SO, ESSENTIALLY, WHAT WE ARE
SEEING IS REALLY THE
EXACERBATION OF PAIN THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC.
WE REALLY REALIZED THE IMPACT OF
NOT ONLY PHYSICAL TRAUMA THAT
COVID-19 HAS CAUSED, BUT THE
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MENTAL TRAUMA
AS WELL, RIGHT?
AND SO WHEN YOU COUPLE THAT WITH
THE FACT THAT THERE WERE ALREADY
INCREASING DISPARITIES WITHIN
THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, WHETHER
THAT'S IN HOUSING, LACK OF
QUALITY HOUSING FOR PEOPLE OF
COLOR, LACK OF QUALITY
HEALTHCARE FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR,
EDUCATION INEQUITIES,
UNEMPLOYMENT AND
UNDEREMPLOYMENT, MAJOR ISSUES
WITHIN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE,
AND THEN A PANDEMIC COMES ALONG
TO EXACERBATE DISPARITIES, THEN
WHAT YOU PRODUCE IS A LOT OF
DESPAIR, ANGER, ISOLATION,
INCREASING RISKY BEHAVIORS
LEADING TO VIOLENCE.
THERE IS A SOCIETAL ISSUE, A
SOCIETAL DILEMMA WE HAVE LEADING
TO A LOT OF THE ENGAGEMENT IN
THE VIOLENCE THAT WE SEE, SO WE
HAVE TO LOOK AT ROOT CAUSE
INSTEAD OF SAYING FROM A SYMPTOM
FOCUS AND LOOKING AT THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE
COMMITTING THESE HEINOUS CRIMES
OR UNFORTUNATE CRIME, BUT ALSO
THE OTHER PART OF THIS, WHY ARE
THEY DOING THAT?
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
WHAT ARE THE EXPERIENCES THAT
HAVE BEEN EXPOSED THAT IS
LEADING THEM TO MAKE THESE
DECISIONS, AND WHAT ARE THE ILLS
THAT HAVE BEEN REALLY BROUGHT TO
THE FOREFRONT ON A MACRO LEVEL
BY COVID-19?
HOW DO WE ADDRESS THOSE AS WELL?
>> AND, KWEKU TeAngelo, YOU
WORK WITH YOUTH.
WHAT'S THIS LOOK LIKE WITH YOU
SPECIFICALLY ON THE GROUND.
>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING, AND
JAMAAL REALLY LAID A STRONG
FOUNDATION TO A LOT OF WHAT WE
ARE SEEING.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FROM THE
YOUTH PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE TO BE
VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE VARIETY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
THAT'S BEEN DIRECTLY SEVERED DUE
TO THE PANDEMIC.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT AND ALL OF THE
VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND
THAT ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR
THE YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE
AGENCIES HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY
IMPACTED.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
YOU THINK ABOUT OURSELVES WHEN
WE WERE IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, WE
GOT A LOT OF ACCESS TO
OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH OUR
SCHOOLS.
YOU WOULD HAVE ORGANIZATIONS
COME INTO OUR SCHOOLS, TABLE,
AND SHARE A VARIETY OF RESOURCES
ABOUT WHAT THEY HAD FOR US TO
GET INTO THE VARIETY OF CAREERS
THAT REALLY CAN IMPACT OUR
PASSION AND WHAT OUR FUTURE'S
GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
THE REALITY IS, DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC, DUE TO SCHOOLS,
TRANSITIONING TO VIRTUAL, AND
DUE TO OUT OF SCHOOL
PROGRAMMING, DIRECTLY BE
IMPACTED AND SWITCHING TO
VIRTUAL AS WELL.
YOU HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE
DOING VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING IN
SCHOOL AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING
FOR THE AFTER SCHOOL
PROGRAMMING.
IT DID NOT MESH WELL.
WE RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT THE
PANDEMIC THAT YOUTH DEVELOP
PIECE WAS OFTENTIMES VOID FROM
THE CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO DISCUSS HOW YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTLY IMPACTS A LOT OF OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE AND LACK OF
ACCESSIBILITY DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC FOR SAFETY REASONS
WHILE A LOT OF RESOURCES FOR
THEM WERE TAKEN AWAY.
>> JAMAAL, WHY EXACTLY IS THIS
SO MUCH WORSE DURING THE
PANDEMIC WITH 2021 SET TO REACH
HISTORIC LEVELS OF HOMICIDE?
HOW EXACTLY DO WE GET FROM A
PANDEMIC TO HOMICIDE?
WHAT ARE ALL OF THE LINKAGES IN
BETWEEN?
>> WELL, GREAT QUESTION.
AND LET'S JUST PROVIDE A LITTLE
CONTEXT.
THERE WAS AN EPIDEMIC OF GUN
VIOLENCE EVEN BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC HIT, RIGHT?
GUN VIOLENCE IS A DISCUSSION.
VIOLENCE AS A WHOLE HAS ALWAYS
BEEN A DISCUSSION.
STRATEGIES ABOUT PREVENTION HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A DISCUSSION AS
WELL.
NOT TO THE LEVEL THAT WE WOULD
LIKE TO SEE AS WORKING IN
PREVENTION, BUT IT HAS BEEN
THERE SO THEN WHEN YOU BRING
ABOUT A PANDEMIC THAT ACTUALLY,
YOU KNOW, TO TeAngelo'S
POINT CHANGES THE WAY OF LIFE,
THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS
SWITCHED, A LOT OF THINGS ENDED,
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS THAT
PEOPLE HAD DIRECT ACCESS TO
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC WERE TAKEN
AWAY IN ADDITION TO THE FACT
THAT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, LOST
JOBS, LOST INCOME, YOU KNOW,
DESPERATION INCREASED, RIGHT?
AND EVEN LOOKING AT MILWAUKEE,
ALREADY, THE BLACK MEDIAN INCOME
IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE WAS
$36,000 PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THAT
COULD BE NOW, BASED ON THE
PANDEMIC, RIGHT, AND HOW MANY
PEOPLE LOST INCOME BECAUSE OF
IT, THAT IS WHAT THEN INCREASES
THE LIKELIHOOD FOR THE ANGER AND
FRUSTRATION THAT COMES ALONG
WITH THE ENGAGEMENT AND
VIOLENCE.
YOU ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW,
TRAUMA IS A REALLY BIG ISSUE
THAT IS NOT DISCUSSED ON A GRAND
LEVEL.
RIGHT?
THE LEVELS OF TRAUMA THAT EXIST.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ENGAGE IN
GUN VIOLENCE HAVE BEEN VICTIMS
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY OF GUN
VIOLENCE, RIGHT?
WHETHER THAT'S YOU'VE SEEN IT
HAPPEN OR IT HAPPENED TO YOU,
RIGHT?
SO, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING THE
GENERATIONAL ASPECT OF TRAUMA
THAT A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS
EXPERIENCE, PLUS THE IMPACT OF
COMMUNITY TRAUMA, AND TALKING
ABOUT THE LACK THAT IS EXISTING
WITHIN THESE COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE HIGHLY IMPACTED BY THAT GUN
VIOLENCE, RIGHT, AND SO, YOU
KNOW, IT IS JUST SEEING THIS IS
A COMPLEX WAY WOVEN, HOWEVER, WE
HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
COMPLEXITY IS THERE.
RIGHT?
AND IT IS GOING TO TAKE A HIGH
LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT FROM, LIKE,
MULTIDISCIPLINARY ENGAGEMENT IN
ORDER FOR THIS TO REALLY BE
ADDRESSED.
RIGHT?
THIS JUST CAN'T COME FROM ONE
ENTITY.
THIS HAS TO BE MULTIDISCIPLINARY
APPROACH.
>> AND KWEKU TeAngelo, WHY
ARE MORE AND MORE TRAGEDIES
HAPPENING TO YOUNG PEOPLE?
PARTICULARLY THOSE UNDER THE AGE
OF 18?
>> SUCH A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO
ANSWER.
AS WE RECOGNIZE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
NOT A MONOLITHIC PEOPLE.
THERE'S NOT JUST ONE REASON WHY
ANY ONE PERSON MAKES A DECISION
THEY MAKE.
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF REASONS
THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE AND WHAT'S
HAPPENING TO THEM, WHAT'S NOT
HAPPENING FOR THEM, AND JAMAAL
GAVE SO MUCH CONTEXT TO A LOT OF
ISSUES THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT
NOW.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE, SPECIFICALLY, IT IS JUST
TRULY, LIKE, IN MY VISION OF
THIS, THERE'S A LACK OF
OPPORTUNITY.
A LACK OF ACCESS DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE SAFETY
OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WE
RECOGNIZE THAT THEM ENGAGING IN
LARGE GROUPS GIVES THEM THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE EXPOSED TO
COVID, AND SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT
SMALL GROUPS ARE IDEAL, BUT THEN
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A STEP
FURTHER BACK, WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT OUR AGENCIES THAT ARE
OFTENTIMES REQUIRED TO TRACK
NUMBERS AND THEY ARE ONLY
ALLOWED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, A
CERTAIN POINT IN THE PANDEMIC,
LESS THAN 10 PEOPLE IN A ROOM,
AS JAMAAL TALKED ABOUT EARLIER,
YOU KNOW, JOBS, SO WE CAN NO
LONGER SUSTAIN MULTIPLE STAFF
FOR AN ORGANIZATION DUE TO THOSE
STIPULATIONS FOR OUR SAFETY, AND
NOT DIRECTLY -- THAT DIRECTLY
IMPACTED OUR YOUNG PEOPLE'S
ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND SAFETY
BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE AND
THOSE WHO SERVE THEM, BUT THINK
ABOUT THOSE THEY HAVE TO GO HOME
TO, CHILDREN THEY HAVE TO KEEP
SAFE, ELDERLY THEY HAVE TO KEEP
SAFE, AND SO EVERYONE IS
THINKING ABOUT NOT ONLY THEIR
SAFETY, BUT INDIVIDUALS THEY
HAVE TO GO HOME TO.
SO WHEN YOU FACTOR IN ALL OF
THESE VARIOUS THINGS, AND YOU
TAKE STEPS BACK, IT IS VERY
CLEAR THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
AN ACCESS ISSUE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A RESOURCE
ISSUE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND RERECOGNIZE -- WE RECOGNIZE
THAT IDLE TIME IS THERE'S MORE
OPPORTUNITY FOR RECKLESS
DECISIONS TO BE MADE, AND DUE TO
THE PANDEMIC, THERE'S BEEN A LOT
OF IDLE TIME FOR OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE, AND THEY HAVE BEEN
MAKING MORE RISKY DECISIONS
DURING THAT TIME, AND IF WE
THINK ABOUT IT, A LOT OF THESE
YOUNG PEOPLE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE
BEEN IN YOUTH SERVING AGENCIES,
PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING THAT
WOULD HAVE BETTER DIRECTED THEM,
BETTER SUPPORTED THEM, BETTER
RESOURCED THEM IN THE REALITY
DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE
PANDEMIC WE'RE STILL IN NOW, A
LOT OF THESE ISSUES IS GOING TO
BE REALLY DIFFICULT FOR US TO
TRANSITION OUT OF UNLESS WE
REALLY START TO THINK OUTSIDE OF
THE BOX.
WE REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
THE LARGE SPACES THAT WE HAVE
THAT WE CAN SAFELY BRING IN
GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS,
PARTICULARLY YOUNG PEOPLE, TO
ENGAGE WITH EACH OTHER IN A SAFE
WAY.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THAT
LEVEL OF INVESTMENT HAS NOT
OCCURRED FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, OH, OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DOING THIS, OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT, WE
ALSO HAVE TO FACTOR IN WHAT ARE
WE NOT DOING FOR OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE?
THE REALITY IS THAT THERE'S A
LOT WE'RE NOT DOING.
>> AND KWEKU TeAngelo,
WHAT'S THE CONVERSATIONS YOU
HAVE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE?
WHAT ARE THEY TELLING YOU?
WHAT ARE YOU HEARING INSTEAD OF,
YOU KNOW, WHAT PEOPLE ARE JUST
KIND OF ASSUMING, LIKE, YOU
SAID, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT
DOING THIS OR ARE DOING THAT.
>> YEAH.
ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION.
I REMEMBER SPEAKING TO A YOUNG
PERSON, MAN, I WAS PROBABLY
ABOUT 6 OR 7 MONTHS BACK, A
YOUTH SERVING AGENCY REACH OUT
TO ME THAT WAS DIRECTLY TRYING
TO SERVE THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO
WERE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.
SHE BROUGHT ONE OF THOSE YOUNG
PEOPLE ON THE SCREEN, AND WE
WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION, AND
I ASKED HER, LIKE, ASKED HER, AS
YOU ASKED ME, WHAT DO YOU NEED?
LIKE, WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR YOU
AND YOUR PEERS TO MAKE LESS
RISKIER DECISIONS?
SHE SAID, WE NEED ALL THE STUFF
THAT WE HAD BEFORE BACK.
THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID.
I WANT TO GO TO THE MOVIES.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO BOWLING.
LIKE, THESE THINGS THAT WE TOOK
FOR GRANTED, AND THE PANDEMIC
REALLY SEVERED FOR, AGAIN, FOR
SAFETY REASONS, WHILE WE
COULDN'T DO THESE THINGS IN
LARGER CAPACITIES, AND WE KNOW
YOUNG PEOPLE LOVE TO SOCIALIZE
AND LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE
THEIR PEERS AND ENGAGE WITH
THEIR PEERS, AND DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC, A LOT OF THOSE THINGS
THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO FOR
FREE, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THAT
UNNECESSARY OVERSIGHT.
THEY WERE ALREADY STRATEGICALLY
THINGS IN PLACE TO OVERSEE THEM.
AT THE MOVIES, THERE'S STAFF AND
SECURITY THERE ALREADY, THERE'S
THINGS THAT WE DON'T EVEN THINK
ABOUT BECAUSE WE TAKE IT FOR
GRANTED THAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN
CLEARLY GO TO AND FEEL SAFE.
AS JAMAAL STATED EARLIER, A LOT
OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN
OUR CITY RIGHT NOW HAVE IMPACTED
A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY, IN WAYS
IN WHICH THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT YOUNG
PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
WAYS THEY CAN GO IN TO SPACES
SAFELY, FEEL SECURE, FEEL SAFE,
SCENE WHEN WE CAN CREATE AND
IDENTIFY THOSE SPACES, WE'LL BE
ABLE TO FOR THEM TO IN LARGER
SPACES COME BACK, AND THERE ARE
SOME ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE DOING
THAT WELL.
THERE'S SOME ORGANIZATIONS WHO
ARE SLOWLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT THOSE HYBRID APPROACHES
LOOK LIKE.
IN A LOT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS,
THEY WERE HAPPENING THROUGH
COLLECTIVE IMPACT COALITION
CALLED BEYOND THE DOUBT, AND IT
IS OUR GOAL TO REALLY UPLIFT THE
WORK OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.
WHEN WE UPLIFT THE WORK OF YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT, WE DIRECTLY ARE
SERVING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND
WHEN WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, LOOKING AT
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR
ORGANIZATIONS, STAFF, YOUNG
PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFE AND SECURE
IN SPACE, WHEN WE REALLY START
TO HAVE THE DEEPER DISCUSSIONS,
WE'LL SLOWLY START TO SEE
OURSELVES COMING OUT OF SOME OF
THESE ISSUES, AND MY YOUNG
PEOPLE FEEL BAD, THEN THEY ARE
SUPPORTED.
THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY NEED AND
TALK ABOUT.
HOW CAN WE BETTER SUPPORT OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE WAY THEY CAN
TRANSITION SLOWLY, BUT SURELY,
AS WE VERY MUCH RECOGNIZE WE'RE
STILL IN THE PANDEMIC, BUT AS WE
CREATE SPACES, THAT ARE SAFER
FOR THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL, A LOT
OF THESE ISSUES WILL SLOWLY, BUT
SURELY START TO FADE AWAY.
>> AND, JAMAAL, SPEAKING OF THE
BROADER IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY,
NOT ONLY ARE WE SEEING JUST THE
DIRECT IMPACTS OF THIS VIOLATION
ON THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE ALSO
HAVE THE IMPACTS OF COVID DEATHS
THAT ARE PARTICULARLY IMPACTING
BLACK AND MINORITY COMMUNITIES
IN MILWAUKEE, AND THEN ON TOP OF
THAT, WE WENT THROUGH A POLICE
REFORM MOVEMENT LAST YEAR, AND
WHEN SOME PEOPLE THINK OF PUBLIC
SAFETY AND WAYS TO COMBAT
VIOLENCE, THINK OF POLICE, BUT
OTHERS THINK OF POLICE AS NOT
NECESSARILY HELPING THE PROBLEM.
HOW DO ALL OF THESE THINGS
IMPACT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN SEE
WAYS FORWARD OUT OF THIS
PANDEMIC AND VIOLENT EPIDEMIC?
>> I THINK IT -- GREAT
QUESTION -- I THINK IT PROVIDES
AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRULY HAVE A
DIALOGUE ABOUT WHAT PUBLIC
SAFETY ACTUALLY MEANS AND
REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
DIVEST, REINVEST, YOU KNOW,
DEFUND, AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF
THAT HAS BEEN CENTERED THROUGH A
LOT OF THE, YOU KNOW, PROTESTS
THAT HAVE BEEN GLOBAL.
NOT EVEN JUST NATIONWIDE, BUT
GLOBAL, AND THE CONVERSATION HAS
TO BE HOW DO WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT
IN A MORE INNOVATIVE WAY TO
INVEST IN PUBLIC SAFETY?
RIGHT?
IT IS NOT JUST A CONVERSATION
ABOUT WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON ONE
ENTITY TO SOLVE THE ISSUES IN
ALL OF OUR MAJOR -- IN ALL OF
OUR CITIES, ESPECIALLY OUR MAJOR
URBAN CITIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S A LITTLE
OVER 1700 RANKEN FILE OFFICERS
IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, AND
THE POPULATION IS NEARLY
600,000.
YOU ARE ASKING A LOT FOR THE
POLICE TO BE THE ONLY ENTITY
LOOKED TO FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
THAT'S A LOT FOR THEM.
THAT'S A HUGE BURDEN ON CITY
ITSELF.
VERSUS BEING THERE ARE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW DO WE
ALSO INCLUDE EFFORTS THAT ARE
HAPPENING ON GROUND, GRASSROOT
ORGANIZATIONS, GRASS TOPS
ORGANIZES, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, AREAS LIKE THE
OFFICE OF VIOLENCE AND
PREVENTION AND OTHERS THAT ARE
DOING WORK AND LOOKING AT
VIOLENCE FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH
LENS TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAYS
TO ELEVATE OPPORTUNITIES AROUND
SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
AND OTHER PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
WE SEE VIOLENCE AS A DISEASE,
AND IF IT IS A DISEASE, IT IS
PREVENTABLE.
IF IT IS PREVENTABLE, WE NEED
PREVENTATIVE STRATEGIES PUT IN
PLACE IN ORDER FOR IT TO END, SO
WHEN WE HAVE THESE TYPES OF
DIALOGUES, RIGHT, IT IS -- IT'S
IMPERATIVE THAT PEOPLE REALLY
UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT
PREVENTION IS, WHAT'S VIOLENCE
PREVENTION, COMPLEXITIES OF
VIOLENCE BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCES,
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, BUT RARELY
SYSTEMIC VIOLENCE AND DISCUSS
WAYS POLICIES AND PRACTICES HAVE
BEEN INTENTIONALLY HARMING
MARGINALIZED, DISENFRANCHISED
COMMUNITIES, RIGHT?
WE TALK ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH
THEY HAVE BEEN DIVESTED FROM,
AND THAT ALSO LEADS INTO THE
IMPACT OF THE EROSION OF THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT LEADS TO,
AGAIN, ENGAGEMENT OF VIOLENCE
THROUGH RISKY BEHAVIORS BECAUSE
OF THE DESOLATION, TRAUMA, AND
DISTRESS.
IT IS LOOKING AT ALL OF THE
VARIOUS LEVELS AND BEING ABLE TG
CONVERSATIONS, AND WE GOT TO BE
TRUTHFUL ABOUT THIS.
YOU KNOW, AND IS IT
UNCOMFORTABLE?
ABSOLUTELY.
THIS IS NOT AN EASY DISCUSSION.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS
TO BE WHERE PEOPLE'S --
EVERYONE'S FEELINGS ARE
CONSIDERED BECAUSE THERE ARE
GOING TO BE SOME TIMES WHERE
THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY THAT'S
GOING TO BE A PART OF THAT,
RIGHT?
SO, YOU KNOW, EVEN WITH THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
POLICE REFORM, CONVERSATION
ABOUT DISCUSSES THE LEVELS OF
EMPLOYMENT OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT
OPPORTUNITIES HAS ACCESS TO
OPPORTUNITIES AS KWEKU
TeAngelo REFERENCED.
WE HAVE TO BE HONEST IN
RECOGNIZING THERE HAVE BEEN
INTENTIONAL STRATEGIES TO KEEP
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FROM
PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES.
RIGHT?
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
HOW THERE HAVE BEEN OCCUPATIONS
OR VOCATIONS IN WHICH WE'VE SEEN
APPLICATIONS OR RESUMÉS FOR
BLACK POTENTIAL PERSPECTIVE
APPLICANTS BEING DISCARDED AT A
HIGHER RATE BECAUSE OF THEIR
NAME.
RIGHT?
THAT'S A SYSTEMIC ISSUE.
RIGHT?
THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
COMMUNITY.
THAT'S ALSO VIOLENCE.
THAT'S AN INTENDED HARM.
THAT IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF
VIOLENCE.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VIOLENCE,
HAVING A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO
ISSUES THAT SYSTEMS PERPETUATE
IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
THERE'S GOT TO BE OTHER
INNOVATIVE WAYS IN ADDITION TO
WHAT WE DISCUSS WITH SYSTEMIC
REFORM IN ORDER TO REALLY CHANGE
THE LANDSCAPE OF WHAT VIOLENCE
LOOKS LIKE.
>> AND, JAMAAL, AS YOU ARE
SPEAKING ABOUT THIS, IS THE VERY
FACT THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC
HEALTH APPROACH, IS THAT NOVEL
AND INNOVATIVE IN AND OF ITSELF?
YOU SPEAK OF IT AS A DISEASE,
AND WHEN WE THINK OF HEALTH, YOU
KNOW, VIOLENCE IS SOMETIMES
PHYSICAL HARM, BUT IS IT ALSO
MENTAL HARM?
IS IT THESE STRUCTURAL
DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, SOCIAL
DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, ARE ALL
OF THESE NEW WAYS OF LOOKING AT
WHAT YOU SAID IS THIS VERY LONG
STANDING PROBLEM AS A WAY TO
REFRAME AND POTENTIALLY SEE NEW
SOLUTIONS?
>> I WON'T SAY THEY ARE NEW, BUT
I WILL SAY THAT IT IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT
SOLUTIONS, TO YOUR POINT.
THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATIONS, I
BELIEVE, EVEN FROM THE CENTER
FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND
PREVENTION.
YOU HAVE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE
PREVENTION INSTITUTE IN OAKLAND,
CALIFORNIA.
THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING THESE
TYPES OF DISCUSSIONS AND THEN
LEADING AT THE FOREFRONT OF
PREVENTION EFFORTS FOR SOME
YEARS NOW.
THE ISSUE IS, TO YOUR POINT
EARLIER, EVERY TIME SOMEBODY
TALKS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, IT
AUTOMATICALLY GOES TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT, RIGHT?
SO THE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN
MINIMAL AND HAVE NOT BEEN AS
PUBLIC IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING
VIOLENCE FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH
LENS.
NOW WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE
INCREASE IN THAT, AND WE CAN SAY
HERE IN MILWAUKEE THERE'S BEEN A
STRONG EFFORT AROUND GETTING
PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND VIOLENCE
FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH LENS, AND
WITH OUR BLUEPRINT FOR PEACE,
WHICH IS A COMMUNITY DRIVEN
STRATEGIC PLAN AROUND VIOLENCE
PREVENTION THAT WAS RELEASED
HERE IN MILWAUKEE IN 2017, IT
WAS THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY
THAT SAID, WE WANT TO LOOK AT
VIOLENCE FROM A DIFFERENT LENS,
AND PUBLIC HEALTH IS THE LENS TO
LOOK AT IT FROM.
SO NOW PEOPLE ARE NOT BEGIN --
ARE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND MORE
SO OF WHAT THAT MEANS FROM A
PUBLIC HEALTH LENS, AND THEN
THAT'S WHAT BRINGS ABOUT THOSE
INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES THAT CAN
BEGIN TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE IN
VARIOUS FORMS.
>> AND, KWEKU TeAngelo, WHEN
WE THINK OF INTERRUPTION OR
INTERVENTION, ARE WE THINKING
ABOUT THE IMMEDIATE
INTERPRETATION AND INTERVENTION,
AS YOU MENTIONED, SOME YOUNG
PEOPLE JUST WANT TO GO TO THE
MOVIES, BOWLING, OR ARE WE ALSO
THINKING ABOUT THESE LONGER TERM
GENERATIONAL TRAUMA OR
GENERATIONAL VIOLENCE THAT
PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED OVER AND
OVER.
DOES ONE TAKE PRIORITY OVER THE
OTHER?
ARE THEY BOTH A PART OF WHAT
YOUR OFFICE WORKS ON WITH YOUNG
PEOPLE?
>> IT IS DEFINITELY A YES/AND.
SOME FOLKS ARE EXPERIENCING ONE
FORM OF VIOLENCE MORE THAN
ANOTHER.
SOMETIMES THAT CAN TAKE
PRECEDENT IN YOUR SITUATION.
SO IT IS SUCH A DIFFICULT
QUESTION TO ANSWER BECAUSE ISSUE
AGAIN, IT IS INDIVIDUAL BASED.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE PUBLIC
HEALTH APPROACH, WE THINK ABOUT
THE COMMUNITY AND WAYS THAT WE
CAN HEAL THE COMMUNITY,
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, HEALING
PRACTICES, INTERVENTIONS THAT DO
NOT REQUIRE PUBLIC SAFETY TO
COME IN TO A SPACE, BUT THAT'S
MEDIATED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
FAMILY MEMBERS, AND CREATING
SPACES WHERE WE CAN TEACH EACH
OTHER ABOUT THE VARIOUS FORMS
THAT WE CAN SUPPORT EACH OTHER
IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND IT IS
VITAL, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME
THAT Wii TALK -- THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT, AND JAMAAL
REFERENCED THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC
SAFETY WE HAVE VERSUS THE
COMMUNITY WE HAVE AT LARGE.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE NEEDS TO
BE AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF
SUPPORT WE CAN PROVIDE FOR
OURSELVES AND PROVIDE FOR OUR
COMMUNITY.
OUR COMMUNITY COULD BE OUR HOME.
OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BE OUR
FAMILY.
OUR COMMUNITY COULD BE OR
SCHOOL.
OUR COMMUNITY COULD BE WHERE WE
WORK.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY,
EVEN THE COMMUNITY, AND THERE'S
SPACES, LIKE SCHOOLS IN
PARTICULAR, THERE'S GREAT
ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS LIKE
VIOLENCE FREE ZONES THAT HAVE
STAFF WITHIN SPACES WHERE YOU
DON'T HAVE TO CALL PUBLIC
SAFETY, WHICH IS REALLY SET UP
TO DO MORE EMERGENCY BASED
VIOLENCE.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THINGS, WHAT
WE NEED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY
ARE HAVING DISPUTES WITH EACH
OTHER WITHIN SCHOOLS.
WE NEED SPACES WITHIN SCHOOLS
LIKE VIOLENCE FREE ZONE TO COME
INTO THE SPACES, MEDIATE FOR THE
YOUNG PEOPLE, AND CREATE SPACES
OF HEALING.
THOSE SPACES ARE VITAL.
WE NEED THAT APPROACH TO BE
GIVEN TO OUR ENTIRE CITY.
OUR STATE EVEN IN OUR NATION,
AND IN A STRONGER, MORE
IMPACTFUL WAY.
WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT AS JAMAAL
SAID, OUT OF THE BOX APPROACHES,
THAT ARE NOT NEW.
THESE ARE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
THAT ARE NOT NEW.
THESE ARE OLD PRACTICES,
PRACTICES THAT OUR INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE TAUGHT US, AND WE
CONTINUE TO TEACH TO OUR
FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
WE NEED TO EXPAND THAT WORK SO
THAT EVERYONE HAS THE ABILITY TO
SAFELY MEDIATE A CONVERSATION
BETWEEN FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
SITUATIONS THAT ARE INVOLVING
GUNS WHERE THERE SHOULD BE AN
ADDITIONAL LAYER OF TRAINING,
ADDITIONAL LAYER OF SUPPORT,
CREDIBLE MESSAGES THAT HAVE GONE
THROUGH DUE TO COUNTY, AND THERE
ARE UNIQUE LEVELS OF TRAINING
THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THOSE HIGHER
RISK SITUATIONS, BUT WHEN WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT MEDIATION, WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO TALK TO EACH
OTHER, AND WE SHOULD HAVE THE
TOOLS AND THE SKILLS TO BE ABLE
TO DO THAT.
WE SHOULD NOT GO IN A SITUATION
WHERE I'M GOING TO GO GET MY
GUN.
WE NEED TO BE WORKING TOWARDS
HEALING PRACTICES THAT MAKE IT
SAFER FOR US TO FIGURE OUT
THINGS INTERNALLY VERSUS TAKING
SUCH DRASTIC ACTION.
>> AND IN THE ABSENCE OF A LOT
OF THESE PHYSICAL SPACES THAT
YOU'RE SPEAKING OF, HOW MUCH ARE
WE SEEING THE VIRTUAL SPACES
KIND OF TAKE OVER AS SOCIAL
MEDIA IS ALSO SEEN AS A PART OF
OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC
HEALTH?
KWEKU TeAngelo, HOW MUCH ARE
WE SEEING SOME OF THESE THINGS
BEGIN ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND,
THEREFORE, IT IS DIFFICULT,
ALSO, FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE
TRYING TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE TO
INTERVENE ON THE FRONT END.
>> WE DEFINITELY RECOGNIZE THAT
CYBER BULLYING IS PROBABLY AT
THE ALL-TIME HIGH.
IN OUR OFFICE, WE HAVE RECENTLY
RECEIVED A GRANT TO BETTER
EDUCATE OUR FAMILIES, OUR
SCHOOLS, ABOUT HOW WE CAN
MEDIATE SOME OF THESE CYBER
BULLYING SITUATIONS.
THAT'S ONE PIECE.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT VIRTUAL
PIECE, WE HAVE A GREAT SPEAKER
YESTERDAY THAT REALLY SAID
SOMETHING THAT I HOPE TO
INCORPORATE IN EVERYTHING THAT I
DO.
IT IS NOT ABOUT ALWAYS -- I'LL
SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO YOUNG
PEOPLE, BUT THIS CAN BE USED IN
A BROADER BRUSH -- IF OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE
SHOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH
MEETING THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE SHOULDN'T FEEL LIKE IT ALWAYM
OUT OF A SPACE THAT THEY ARE
COMFORTABLE IN ALREADY AND HAVE
TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR THEM
WHEN THEY WERE ALREADY IN ONE.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, AGAIN, OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY ARE IN --
THEIR GENERATION IS A SOCIAL
MEDIA ERA IN A WAY THAT EVEN MY
GENERATION HAS NOT EVEN
EXPERIENCED.
WE HAVE TO, AGAIN, MEET YOUNG
PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT.
IF THAT'S A SPACE WHERE YOU ARE
COMFORTABLE AND YOU'RE SAFE,
THEN WHAT INDIRECTLY IMPACTS US
IS WE WORK FROM HOME NOW, AND
WHO WOULD HAVE KNOWN WORKING
FROM HOME WAS SAFER THAN GOING
TO THE OFFICE, YOU KNOW,
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE
EXPERIENCE FROM HOME TO THE
OFFICE THAT WE CAN AVOID
DIRECTLY BY WORKING REMOTE IS
ANOTHER LAYER OF DISCUSSION THAT
I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO BE
TALKING ABOUT IN THE HIGHER
LEVEL, AND I KNOW SOME SPACES
ARE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST HYBRID
BASED WORK AREA WE ARE GOING
INTO RIGHT NOW WITH FOLKS
WORKING FROM THE OFFICE AND ALSO
WORKING FROM HOME.
THAT GIVES THAT INDIVIDUAL A
LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
THAT YOUNG PERSON IS GOING
THROUGH.
TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHAT A
YOUNG PERSON IS GOING THROUGH IS
NOT FAIR, BUT IF YOU ARE LIVING
EXPERIENCES THEY ARE LIVING, IT
MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO
EMPATHIZE, A LITTLE EASIER TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE GOING
THROUGH, AND BECAUSE WE, AS
ADULTS, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO
PUSH THROUGH SOME OF THESE
PANDEMIC BARRIERS THAT YOUNG
PEOPLE DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE
THE ACCESS TO DO.
WE CAN STILL GO TO BARS AND
THINGS OF THAT NATURE, YOU KNOW,
IN THE EVENING TIME, BUT YOUNG
PEOPLE, THEY REALLY DON'T
HAVE -- THEY HAVE A VERY SMALL
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EVENING
TIMES FOR THEM TO SOCIALIZE WITH
THEIR PEERS.
US, AS ADULTS, HAVE A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES.
SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, SOME OF THE DECISION
MAKING THAT'S HAPPENING AT
NIGHT, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT
WE CAN DO TO ELEVATE THAT WORK?
SO LIKE THE MIDNIGHT LEAGUE IS
SUCCESSFUL.
SOME OF THE TRANSITIONAL SPACES
THAT WE ARE HOUSING SOME OF OUR
NPS SCHOOLS HAVE SHOWN GREAT
FRUIT.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO BRING
THOSE THINGS TO SCALE AS WE ARE
STILL IN THIS PANDEMIC?
I THINK THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE
WHAT CONVERSATIONS WE NEED TO
CONTINUE HAVING AND MAKING
ACTION BEHIND.
I THINK IT IS STILL DIFFICULT
FOR US TO DO SOME OF THOSE
THINGS BECAUSE IT IS SO OUTSIDE
OF OUR NORM, BUT WE'RE IN A
PANDEMIC, EVERYTHING CHANGED.
WE HAVE TO BE COMFORTABLE MAKING
CHANGES NECESSARY SO THAT THE
SAFETY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IS A
PRIORITY.
>> THIS LAST QUESTION IS FOR
BOTH OF YOU, AND, JAMAAL,
STARTING WITH YOU.
FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE WITH
THIS KIND OF STRESS AND THIS
KIND OF TRAUMA, BUT ARE
LISTENING AND WANT TO
UNDERSTAND, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE AREN'T
KIND OF PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS
THAT ARE ADDING TO THIS IDEA OF
VIOLENCE IN MILWAUKEE?
WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE WHO
DON'T LIVE IN MILWAUKEE AND WHO
DON'T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT
MEANS TO TRY AND FEEL SAFE WHEN
THEY WALK AROUND OUTSIDE WHEN
YOU ARE DOING YOUR WORK TRYING
TO HELP KIND OF BRING THE
BROADER MESSAGE OF SAFETY TO
PEOPLE IN MILWAUKEE?
>> GREAT QUESTION.
THE FIRST THING IS I WOULD
CHALLENGE PEOPLE TO STEP OUTSIDE
OF SOME OF THE OLD REALITIES OF
WHAT THEY BELIEVE HAPPENS WITHIN
URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS.
CONTRARY POPULAR OPINION, BLACK
AND BROWN PEOPLE ARE NOT
INHERENTLY VIOLENT, RIGHT?
VIOLENCE IS NOT BASED ON RACE.
VIOLENCE HAPPENS BECAUSE OF
PAIN.
VIOLENCE HAPPENS BECAUSE OF
TRAUMA.
VIOLENCE HAPPENS BECAUSE OF
WHATEVER TYPES OF FEELINGS OR
FRUSTRATIONS OR ANGER THAT LEADS
TO THE DECISION TO ENGAGE HAS
NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE.
THAT'S ONE.
TWO, LET'S DO AN ACTUAL
GEOGRAPHIC CALL ANALYSIS OF YOUR
NEIGHBORHOODS VERSUS THE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE HIGHLY
IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE, AND THEN
LET'S HAVE A MORE IN-DEPTH
DISCUSSION.
RIGHT?
THERE'S -- I MEAN, WHEN YOU
START TO REALLY LOOK AT THE
AREAS THAT HAVE ALL OF THE HIGH
QUALITY OF -- THE SOCIAL
DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT
ELEVATE QUALITY OF LIFE, AND
THEN YOU START TO LOOK AT
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DO NOT HAVE
THAT, RIGHT, AND START TO
QUESTION, WELL, WHY IS IT THAT
THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THIS IS AN
ISSUE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?
THEN YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO
REALLY LOOK AT WHAT THOSE ISSUES
ARE.
THIS IS A GREAT ANALOGY.
30 KIDS ARE AT A PARTY WITH A
PIN ATA, AND THEY BUST IT OPEN,
AND THREE PIECES OF CANDY COME
OUT.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE 30 KIDS?
THEY ATTACK EACH OTHER FOR THE
THREE PIECES OF CANDY.
EVERYONE'S TRYING TO GET TO THE
CANDY.
THAT'S THE SAME THING WE HAVE TO
LOOK AT IN TERMS OF RESOURCES.
WHEN IT COMES TO A LACK OF
RESOURCES IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
HAVE ALSO BEEN SYSTEMICALLY
DIVESTED FROM AND THERE IS
LIMITED RESOURCES, AND THERE'S
SOME FORM OF IT IN THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS, IMMEDIATELY,
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FIGURE OUT
THE MORE DESPERATE WAYS TO GET
TO THOSE RESOURCES, TO SUSTAIN,
RIGHT, NOT JUST TO -- THIS IS
FOR SURVIVAL.
WHEN WE REALLY LOOK AT WHAT
VIOLENCE IS, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE
TO SAY, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT ARE CAUSING THIS?
WHAT ARE ACTUALLY THOSE
UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT ARE NOT
DISCUSSED ENOUGH THAT NEEDS TO
BE DISCUSSED, RIGHT?
SO, YOU KNOW, TeAngelo
TALKED EARLIER ABOUT YOUNG
PEOPLE, AND WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT
ENGAGEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND
GUN VIOLENCE, AND WHAT MOST
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS THE AVERAGE
AGE OF HOMICIDE VICTIMS IS 30.
THAT'S NOT YOUNG PEOPLE.
RIGHT?
THAT MEANS THAT THERE IS A LEVEL
OF GUN VIOLENCE THAT EXISTS ON
ALL AGE LEVELS.
THIS IS NOT A YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE
ISSUE WE HAVE.
THIS IS GUN VIOLENCE ISSUE WE'RE
HAVING, BUT THEN ALSO WE HAVE TO
COUPLE THAT AND START LOOKING AT
SYSTEMIC ACCOUNTABILITY.
WHY?
BECAUSE OF EASY ACCESS TO GUNS.
RIGHT?
THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE
HAVE.
IN 2020, 40 MILLION GUNS WERE
SOLD NATIONWIDE.
THAT'S OVER 10 MILLION GUNS MORE
THAN IN 2019.
HERE WE ARE IN 2021, STILL THAT
SAME EASY ACCESS, AND WE ARE
STILL DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC
THAT IS PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY
IMPACTING PEOPLE ON GREAT
LEVELS.
SO IT IS -- IT IS AN ALL
ENCOMPASSING EFFORT IN ORDER TO
REALLY ADDRESS PREVENTION.
IT CANNOT JUST BE US LOOKING AND
SAYING THESE PEOPLE ARE
CRIMINAL.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THEM FROM A
PUNISHMENT LENS.
WHAT ARE WE DOING IN ORDER TO
TREAT THE IMPACT OF VIOLENCE?
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT VIOLENCE AS
PREVENTABLE AND TREATABLE
BECAUSE IT IS A DISEASE, RIGHT?
WE'VE BEEN VIEWING THE WAYS IN
WHICH WE ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY
FROM A VERY NARROW LENS, RIGHT?
WE'VE INCARCERATED PEOPLE FOR
SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
INCARCERATED PEOPLE FOR
HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH.
THEY NEEDED HELP.
THEY DIDN'T NEED INCARCERATION,
RIGHT?
THERE HAS TO BE INVESTMENT IN
THOSE AREAS THAT SERVICE PEOPLE
WHO ARE DEALING WITH THOSE
SOCIAL ILLS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO
GET -- THEY PROVIDE ACCESS AND
OPPORTUNITY TO RESOURCES THAT
ALLOWS FOR THEM TO LIVE THEIR
BEST LIVES TO THRIVE, NOT JUST
SURVIVE, TO THRIVE.
THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE NOT BEING
IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE, AND
THEY -- IF THIS IS A COUNTRY
WHERE PEOPLE ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT
THE LAND OF THE FREE, HOME OF
THE BRAVE, YOU KNOW, BRING ME
YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR
HUDDLED MASSES, IT IS ABOUT
LIFE, LIBERTY, THE PURSUIT OF
HAPPINESS, LAISSEZ-FAIRE, WE
SHOULD BE ADVOCATING FOR PEOPLE,
THEY DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND
RESOURCES THAT I RECEIVED,
RIGHT?
THAT IS A GRAND ADVOCACY PIECE
TO ENSURE THAT EVERY PERSON IN
THIS COUNTRY HAS THE ACCESS TO
THE RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR
THEMSELVES TO THRIVE AND FOR
THEIR FAMILIES.
WHEN WE SEE THAT HAPPEN, THAT'S
WHAT VIOLENCE PREVENTION LOOKS
LIKE.
>> KWEKU TeAngelo, SAME
QUESTION TO YOU.
WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS
SOMEONE WHO WORKS VERY DEEPLY IN
IT?
>> I WANT EVERYONE TO RECOGNIZE
THAT WE ARE ALL VIOLENCE
PREVENTION.
WE ALL HAVE A ROLE IN PREVENTING
VIOLENCE.
IF YOU TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
LOOK AT OUR MOVEMENT FOR PEACE,
WE HAVE SIX GOALS, STOP THE
SHOOTING, STOP THE VIOLENCE,
PROMOTE HEALING, RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE, SUPPORT CHILDREN,
YOUTH, AND FAMILIES, PROMOTE
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, FOSTER
SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND
STRENGTHEN CAPACITY AND
COORDINATION OF VIOLENCE
PREVENTION EFFORTS.
ALL OF US HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
FALL INTO ONE OF THESE GOALS AND
CAN DO MULTIPLE OF THESE
STRATEGIES.
EVEN IF YOU JUST DO VIOLENCE
PREVENTION FOR YOUR FAMILY, FOR
YOUR DIRECT COMMUNITY, FOR THE
CHILDREN THAT YOU SEE, YOU ARE
HAVING AN IMPACT.
YOU ARE HAVING A REAL IMPACT.
IF YOU SEE YOURSELF AS VIOLENT
PREVENTION AND EXUDE THAT
THROUGH YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL SEE
A GREATER QUALITY OF HAPPINESS,
GREATER QUALITY OF LIFE, AND
THESE ARE JUST AT THE SMALL
LEVELS, SMALLER LEVELS, WE ALL
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING
HAPPINESS AND JOY TO ANOTHER
PERSON, AND IF WE CONTINUE TO
LIVE IN THAT SPACE, TO REALIZE
THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE, TO MAKE A CHANGE,
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THE
SHIFTS THAT WE WANT TO SEE.
THAT'S HOW JAMAAL AND I ARE.
WE RECOGNIZE AND KNOW THE GREAT
THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY.
WE SEE HOW VIOLENCE PREVENTION
IS WORKING, AND IT IS NOT
PROMOTED IN THE SAME CAPACITY AS
SOME OF OUR VIOLENT ACTS WE SEE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY ARE, BUT IT
KEEPS JAMAAL AND I OPTIMISTIC
BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT'S WORKING.
WE SEE IT.
WE LIVE IT.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE
BROUGHT TO SCALE, AND WHEN WE
CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE
DISCUSSIONS, SO, AGAIN, THANK
YOU FOR CREATING THIS SPACE FOR
US, TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS, WE WILL CONTINUE
TO UPLIFT THE VIOLENCE -- EXCUSE
ME, WE'LL CONTINUE TO UPLIFT THE
NEED FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND
THE IMPACT OF VIOLENCE
PREVENTION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
JAMAAL SMITH AND KWEKU
TeAngelo OF VIOLENCE
PREVENTION, THANK YOU ALL VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US.
>> FOR MORE FROM "HERE & NOW"
AND PBS WISCONSIN, VISIT
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG/NEWS, AND THANK
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"NOON WEDNESDAY."